MIAMI — Agustín Ramírez launched a pinch-hit walk-off home run off the facing of the Budweiser Bar in left-center field at loanDepot park, completing a five-run comeback against the two-time reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and giving the Marlins their seventh walk-off win of 2026.
“It’s been a tough year for me, and that moment was a really beautiful moment for me, and I was enjoying every second,” Ramírez said via interpreter Luis Dorante.
Ramírez became the sixth Marlin to hit a pinch-hit walk-off homer and the first since Donnie Murphy on July 19, 2010. The victory came on the same day Dontrelle “D-Train” Willis was inducted into the Marlins Legends Hall of Fame.
Trailing 3-0 with one out in the eighth, Miami began its rally when Joe Mack and Esteury Ruiz singled. Otto Lopez drove in two with a single up the middle to chase Dodgers righty Edgardo Henriquez. Former All-Star Marlins closer Tanner Scott entered and struck out Griffin Conine to end the threat. After Los Angeles extended its lead to 4-2 in the ninth, Xavier Edwards — reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of the series finale — reached on an infield single. Jakob Marsee bunted for a hit, and Javier Sanoja ripped a game-tying two-run double down the left-field line to chase Scott.
Marlins manager Clayton McCullough then pulled the right lever. He lifted left-handed-hitting rookie Mack in favor of the right-handed-hitting Ramírez. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts countered with righty Brock Stewart. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Stewart left a 94.9 mph four-seamer over the heart of the plate, and Ramírez didn’t miss.
“I’m 100% sure that he was prepared for that at-bat,” Sanoja said of his locker mate via Dorante. “We talk a lot. We share small things, small talks about the game. Just being able to do what he did out there, I’m very happy for him and, again, hoping he has more success in the future.”
Ramírez was Miami’s Opening Day catcher but was demoted to Triple-A Jacksonville on May 4 to make way for Mack. He was recalled on Aug. 4 after the club dealt Liam Hicks to Tampa Bay and needed more thump against lefties. Since his return, Ramírez had been batting .205/.310/.301 with four doubles, one homer, five RBIs, 11 walks and 22 strikeouts in 84 plate appearances, his elite exit velocity undercut by an inability to elevate pitches.
“It is important,” McCullough said of Ramírez’s finish to 2026. “A swing like today, and seeing him do that, he’s capable. … Still believing in the bat, but then also you need to perform here, and so I think that’s kind of where Gus is. There’s still a lot of belief in the ability and the age, and a lot of that. But then it’s, [if] you keep getting opportunities, just making the most of those. Don’t look too far ahead, but as far as reestablishing yourself in some sense back up here. It’s offensively performing closer to the level we think he’s capable of.”
The win secured Miami’s first season series against Los Angeles since 2021 and ended a disappointing 3-6 homestand on a high note. The Marlins now embark on a three-city, nine-game road trip to the D-backs, Padres and Cubs.